Holistic Healing: Healing Through Creativity

At Saving the 22, our focus is on healing through creativity. Most of us know that traditional medicine attempts to cure through medication and external treatments in the hopes that disease is eradicated. Medication is sometimes necessary, but the healing process doesn’t have to stop there.

Healing Is…

Healing is something altogether different. Healing is an internal process that puts us in control of our own treatment – treatment where we work toward restoring balance and harmony to our minds, bodies and souls. Healing enables you to channel your pain constructively and creatively.

In Shawn McNiff’s 2004 book, Art Heals: How Creativity Cures the Soul”, he says, “Creation and healing are the same energy. They transform pain, rather than being destroyed by it. Art heals by accepting the pain and doing something with it.”

In his book, Shawn cites how artistic expression helped our nation to begin to heal after 9/11. After this unspeakable tragedy, words failed us, but art did not. Our grief, pain and fear were channeled into mail art, paintings, murals and monuments.

Creativity’s Many Forms

Creativity can take on many forms and in ways that many of us might not have ever considered. There are no set rules for being creative. Creative expression is as individual as we are. The act of practicing creativity is far more important than how we do it.

Holistic, but Not New Age

The process of healing through creativity isn’t new and it isn’t New Age. It’s a process that’s as old as time itself and has been, and still is, used to this day in every corner of the world. Most people think of meditation and yoga when they think of holistic healing. However, redirecting negative thoughts and behavior can be achieved through a variety of outlets.

Hobbies, Skills and Other Creative Outlets

The list of activities that help redirect and channel self-destructive thoughts and behaviors varies widely. Things like learning to play a new instrument, writing music, dancing, fitness training, cooking, baking, woodworking, crocheting, knitting, sewing, painting, writing poetry, etc. can all be used as creative outlets for relieving stress, anxiety and depression.

Finding Your Creative Style

You might already have a creative passion that you regularly turn to in times of stress, depression, despair or simply for the joy and pleasure of it. Perhaps you don’t quite know what your creative style is. Make a list of:

Activities you enjoy

Things that make you happy

Skills you’d like to learn

Talents you admire

If you’d like to share your creative talents with us, or you want help brainstorming ideas please send us a note here and we’ll get back to you right away.